'Oxenfree' captures 'The Goonies' vibe in a lo-fi adventure game

Night School Studio's debut channels the famed screenwriter's love for the walk-and-talk. This is an adventure game that forgoes cutscenes in favor of near-constant conversation as a group of friends uncovers the secrets of the mysterious (and fictional) Edwards Island.

The vague language here is intentional. Oxenfree's secrets aren't wrapped in arcane puzzles, but they're revealed at a gradual pace. The less you know going in, the better. Think The Goonies. Think Stand By Me. Alex and her friends fall backwards into a grand adventure while they're also standing on the precipice of a pivotal moment in their young lives.

Character chatter is everything in Oxenfree. This is storytelling by way of Telltale Games, meaning the dialogue choices you make for Alex, the story's lead, have a meaningful impact on both her own journey and on the way other characters perceive her. The game telegraphs those shifting impressions with little thought bubbles containing a character's face.

There are a few facts about Alex that stand regardless of how you play her: she's got a sharp mind and a love for history; she's somewhat detached, for reasons that eventually become clear; and she's at the oh-so-familiar teen crossroads: the end of high school.

Image: Night School Studio

Joining Alex on her ferry ride to the island are Jonas, her new step-brother, and Ren, her childhood friend. Jonas is older than the rest of the group. He's a bit distant, but exudes an undeniable sense of young person "cool" in the way he carries himself.

Ren — shortened from "Reginald" — is more colorful. He's a loud-and-proud geek with a bit of bad boy mixed in. Ren also brings "magic" brownies along for the trip, and he's the only one — other than Alex, if you choose — that opts to munch them down.

This trio soon meets up with the rest of their group: Nona, a quirky, quiet loner (also Ren's not-so-secret crush), and her oil-and-water bestie Clarissa. Clarissa is a big jerk.

Or is she? Oxenfree's cast of characters is its greatest strength. Their shared history doesn't connect directly to the island's unusual past, but the circumstances that leave them trapped overnight on Edwards Island play out as a sort of scavenger hunt down memory lane. As you wander around, talking and fiddling with a special radio, facts about these people and the world they live in become clear.

The lo-fi art design gives Edwards Island a distinct feel, and the game plays like those classic 2.5D adventure games from Sierra On-Line. Evocative music from SCNTFC also helps to set the scene.

But it's not perfect. A fixed camera perspective keeps everything framed in a constant long shot. That distance diminishes the tension Oxenfree aims for in many of its more horror-leaning moments. With few cues to draw the eye, the sudden appearance a familiar form unexpectedly dangling from a noose could go unseen. Details are easily missed when they're framed in such a wide field of view.

Image: Night School Studio

The emotional heart of the story is also victimized by the zoomed-out camera. Oxenfree's voice actors turn in tremendous performances that very effectively keep you invested in their journey. But voices alone aren't enough to capture the nuance of the different relationships.

This is most apparent at the end of the game, when — in another Telltale nod — you get a rundown of how your choices affected Alex's relationships with the rest of the cast. You might have played the game thinking one thing about a character, only to find out that some arcane series of dialogue choices led to a completely different outcome.

These shortcomings are significant enough to notice, but not so much that they ruin the whole experience.

Oxenfree's reliance on constant character chatter keeps your attention hooked on every moment, and its story very effectively taps into the nostalgia around coming-of-age tales. It takes some chances and not all of them are successful, but make no mistake: this is a special game.

Oxenfree

The Good

Great writing and voice performances • Beautiful art design • A fun and engaging story that hearkens back to the classic coming-of-age films of the '80s and '90s

The Bad

Fixed long shot perspective means it's easy to miss key moments • Camera distance also makes it hard to connect with the characters

The Bottom Line

It's not a resounding success, but top-notch writing, great voice performances and beautiful, lo-fi settings keep you invested in 'Oxenfree' throughout its long and arduous night.

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